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Neuter Death

22 10:07:45

Question
QUESTION: I took my 5 month old Mini Lop to get neutered today to a vet I found on the recommended vets page on the Rabbit Society.

I called around 1pm to check on him and they told me he had just woken up and did okay. I went to pick him up at 4:30 and the vet came in with him in a towel and said he had died.  The vet said he had checked on him 10 minutes before and he was fine.


He had blood around his nose and coming from his mouth. What could of happened? I am so heartbroken. I wish I would of NEVER taken him there this morning. I just dont understand. And he was cold when I touched him. I think the vet was lying to me when he said he was fine 10 mins before, how could he been cold already? I am soooo sad. I want my Big Boy back. I will never neuter another bunny, if I ever get one again. This IS NOT worth it.

ANSWER: Dear Dawn,

I am so sorry about the tragic, horrible death of your bunny.

It does seem extremely strange that your bunny was cold when you picked him up.  That would certainly not be true if had been alive only a few minutes--or even an hour--before.  It is troubling to think that this vet might not have been honest with you, and it certainly would give me pause.

Blood around the nose and mouth could be caused by many different things, including a pulmonary embolism.  But there could be other causes, such as trauma.  If you truly don't believe the vet, then I would bring the bunny to a *different* vet for a complete necropsy, to see if the true cause of death can be determined.  You might be able to know whether it was truly a tragic accident, caused by an idiosyncratic problem in the bunny that was sort of a "ticking time bomb," or whether this might have been due to negligence.  You can find another rabbit vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

But I would NOT tell the first vet about this.  

I can completely understand your feelings about ever having another bunny neutered.  Bad results are rare, but they do happen.  And for your own peace of mind, you might want to have that necropsy done by a different vet, who doesn't have a vested interest in finding out that "nothing was done incorrectly."  If you do decide to take this route, you must keep the body refrigerated (sorry, I know this sounds awful, but it must be done if you choose necropsy) and have this done as soon as possible.  No later than tomorrow morning.

I am so very sorry about this terrible, terrible loss.

Take care,

Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I didnt take him with me. He is still at the vets office. I couldnt even take his things with me when I left, I am sooo heartbroke.

Will it be too late to take him somewhere if I get him in the morning?

Answer
Dear Dawn,

It is not too late.  They no doubt put his body in the refrigerator.  Please just tell them that you want to take him home to bury him.  Otherwise, he will just be incinerated.

I am sorry.  You should call early, because sometimes the pick up for these things happens early in the morning.

Dana